Mycelium Panels: Morphological Explorations for Optimized Performance
Researcher: Mercedes Garcia Holguera
Project: 2022 – ongoing
Department of Architecture
Collaborators:
Kanza Rauf (PhD student)
Dominico Obmerga (undergraduate research assistant)
Angeline Reyes (undergraduate research assistant)
SiAF (Biosystems Engineering, U. of Manitoba)
Funding
Undergraduate Research Award program
Work study program
NFRF: Exploration grant
At the BIOM_Lab we use mycelium-based materials in combination with agricultural and industrial waste to explore pathways towards a circular economy. Biomaterials have the potential to reduce energy and materials’ extraction needs and are biodegradable at faster rates than conventional construction materials. Another aspect that we are exploring at the BIOM_Lab refers to different morphological panel configurations to enhance mycelium-based materials’ thermal performance by reducing heat gains through self-shaded surfaces. The images presented here show preliminary work on this line of research.